Who is Rebecca:
- 45 year old woman
- Ethnic background is white, Scottish
- Works full time in a very stressful job for the local council
- Married to her husband, Andrew, who works away for periods of time on the oil rigs
- Has 2 children aged 5 & 9
Rebecca’s Medical History:
- Infrequent migraines with visual aura, but not requiring any preventative treatment at present
- In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment for her four pregnancies. In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is one of several techniques available to help people with fertility problems have a baby. For more information on IVF visit: NHSUK
- Two live births and two miscarriages
Symptoms:
- Rebecca has been having chest and back pain, as well as some episodes of shortness of breath, over the last few days. She thought this was indigestion following a large meal.
Next Steps:
- The antacids Rebecca has been taking have not improved the symptoms, so she has now presented at the emergency department, where the triage nurse has assumed Rebecca is suffering from anxiety, and has not prioritised her care. Following a 2-hour waiting time, Rebecca is seen by a doctor.
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